The 2007 season at the Otago Chess Club at 7 Maitland St is under way, starting with the Swiss Rapid tournament running throughout February. A particular highlight in store for this year will be the annual Otago Queen's Birthday Open in June. This year the event is marking the anniversary of 50 years of competitive play at club level and above by local Fide Master and three times former New Zealand Champion, Richard Sutton. To attract a number of top players and Richard's comtemporaries from throughout the country the prizefund is generous and already advance registrations exceed last year's tally.
Today's game is from the 8th round of the recent New Zealand Congress in Wanganui. I am occasionally asked why the short, attacking games I choose are usually victories for White. My answer has been that the advantage of the first move more often gives the White player the chance to generate a mating attack out of the opening - if their opponent makes an early mistake. But here Michael Steadman, playing Black, proceeds from the very opening as if he had the white pieces, launching an aggressive pawn storm even before castling. Without making any obvious error his opponent, NM Peter Stuart, is soon overwhelmed.
1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nc3 Nb6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. a3 g5!?
The name of the opening, The Sicilian Dragon Reversed, already indicates that Black is looking to reverse the traditional roles of attack and defence. This rarely played audacious pawn thrust heralds an all out king-side attack - taking advantage of the fact that Black has not yet castled, allowing the rook to support the h-pawn. 9. d3 ---
It seems harsh to criticise this sound developing move, but Black's plan requires a vigorous response. So 9 b4! with the idea of 9 ... g4 10 Ne1 h5 11 Nd3 h4 12 b5 and 13 Nxe5 would have better met the needs of the position. 9. --- g4 10. Nd2 h5 11. Nc4 h4!
Not fearing 12 Bxc6+ bxc6 13 Nxe5 winning a pawn, as after 13 ... hxg3 14 hxg3 c5 Black's long-term prospects of attacking the denuded white king down the h-file and long diagonal more than compensate. White's defensive bishop is too valuable to exchange. 12. b4 Be6 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Bb2 f5 15. e3 Bf6!
Still not rushing to castle, Black calmly makes way for his queen to reach the h-file. 16. Ne2 Qe7 17. Qc2 O-O-O 18. Rfd1?! ---
Obviously 18 Bxc6? bxc6 19 Qxc6 Bd5 is suicide, but here 18 Rfc1 was a better choice as Black gains valuable tempi for his attack from the rook's position on d1. 18. --- Qf7! 19. Rd2 Bb3 20. Qb1 hxg3 21. hxg3 Bd5 22. e4? fxe4?
Both players miss that here Black could have exploited the pin on the undefended Rd2 by playing 22...Bxe4! either winning the exchange or worse if White exchanges bishops, due to the threats down the h-file. e.g. 23 Bxe4? fxe4 24 Qf1 (forced or else Qh7 mates) Bg5! and if 25 Rd1 Qf3 26 Qg2 e3! winning at least a piece. The attack proceeds nevertheless. 23. dxe4 Bc4 24. Qe1 Rdf8 25. Nc1? ---
Gifting further tempi for Black to finish the attack. After 25 Rdd1 White could continue to defend. 26. --- Qh5
Threat: Qh2 mate. 26. Nd3 Bg5 27. Rdd1 Qh2+ 28. Kf1 Qxg3 29. f3 ---
We have reached the position in today's diagram. Black to mate in 3. 29 --- Rxf3+!
White resigns as it is mate in two more moves.
Local club calendar begins
Problem: Black to play and mate in 3.
The 2007 season at the Otago Chess Club at 7 Maitland St is under way, starting with the Swiss Rapid tournament running throughout February. A particular highlight in store for this year will be the annual Otago Queen's Birthday Open in June. This year the event is marking the anniversary of 50 years of competitive play at club level and above by local Fide Master and three times former New Zealand Champion, Richard Sutton. To attract a number of top players and Richard's comtemporaries from throughout the country the prizefund is generous and already advance registrations exceed last year's tally.
Today's game is from the 8th round of the recent New Zealand Congress in Wanganui. I am occasionally asked why the short, attacking games I choose are usually victories for White. My answer has been that the advantage of the first move more often gives the White player the chance to generate a mating attack out of the opening - if their opponent makes an early mistake. But here Michael Steadman, playing Black, proceeds from the very opening as if he had the white pieces, launching an aggressive pawn storm even before castling. Without making any obvious error his opponent, NM Peter Stuart, is soon overwhelmed.
1. c4 e5
2. g3 Nf6
3. Bg2 d5
4. cxd5 Nxd5
5. Nc3 Nb6
6. Nf3 Nc6
7. O-O Be7
8. a3 g5!?
The name of the opening, The Sicilian Dragon Reversed, already indicates that Black is looking to reverse the traditional roles of attack and defence. This rarely played audacious pawn thrust heralds an all out king-side attack - taking advantage of the fact that Black has not yet castled, allowing the rook to support the h-pawn.
9. d3 ---
It seems harsh to criticise this sound developing move, but Black's plan requires a vigorous response. So 9 b4! with the idea of 9 ... g4 10 Ne1 h5 11 Nd3 h4 12 b5 and 13 Nxe5 would have better met the needs of the position.
9. --- g4
10. Nd2 h5
11. Nc4 h4!
Not fearing 12 Bxc6+ bxc6 13 Nxe5 winning a pawn, as after 13 ... hxg3 14 hxg3 c5 Black's long-term prospects of attacking the denuded white king down the h-file and long diagonal more than compensate. White's defensive bishop is too valuable to exchange.
12. b4 Be6
13. Nxb6 axb6
14. Bb2 f5
15. e3 Bf6!
Still not rushing to castle, Black calmly makes way for his queen to reach the h-file.
16. Ne2 Qe7
17. Qc2 O-O-O
18. Rfd1?! ---
Obviously 18 Bxc6? bxc6 19 Qxc6 Bd5 is suicide, but here 18 Rfc1 was a better choice as Black gains valuable tempi for his attack from the rook's position on d1.
18. --- Qf7!
19. Rd2 Bb3
20. Qb1 hxg3
21. hxg3 Bd5
22. e4? fxe4?
Both players miss that here Black could have exploited the pin on the undefended Rd2 by playing 22...Bxe4! either winning the exchange or worse if White exchanges bishops, due to the threats down the h-file. e.g. 23 Bxe4? fxe4 24 Qf1 (forced or else Qh7 mates) Bg5! and if 25 Rd1 Qf3 26 Qg2 e3! winning at least a piece. The attack proceeds nevertheless.
23. dxe4 Bc4
24. Qe1 Rdf8
25. Nc1? ---
Gifting further tempi for Black to finish the attack. After 25 Rdd1 White could continue to defend.
26. --- Qh5
Threat: Qh2 mate.
26. Nd3 Bg5
27. Rdd1 Qh2+
28. Kf1 Qxg3
29. f3 ---
We have reached the position in today's diagram. Black to mate in 3.
29 --- Rxf3+!
White resigns as it is mate in two more moves.
0-1
Solution:
1... Rxf3+! 2.Bxf3 (2.Ke2 Qg2+ 3.Qf2 Qxf2#; 2.Kg1 Qh2#) 2... Qxf3+ & 3... Rh1#.